Scottish fizz causes real hulla-bru
Indian chef up for honour
It was ‘naan-stop’ excitement this week at a Hamilton takeaway famous for their Buckfast korma and Irn-bru pakora – as they’ve reached the final of a top UK industry award.
The House of Shah, in the town’s Quarry Street, are in the running for Best Takeaway Chef in Britain at The British Takeaway Awards (BTAS).
For the last month, takeaway restaurant owners across Britain have been nominating their cooks and chefs for the coveted ‘Best Takeaway Chef in Britain’ award.
From the hundreds of entries, ranging from fish fryers to pizza chefs, five culinary masterminds have been selected as finalists.
And chef Nazar Hussain – of The House of Shah in Hamilton – will compete against the others to take home the prestigious title.
Just last year, curry lovers in Hamilton were delighted when the takeaway came up with a new dish that had a Scottish twist – Irn-bru chicken pakora.
The dish went down a treat and was a follow-up to the takeaway’s Buckie korma which has been on sale since it opened in 2007.
Naz, who has been a head chef with many top Indian restaurants across Glasgow, spoke to us when he created the Irn-bru pakora, saying: “I think we have got the recipe just right now and I hope our customers might like to try it out.
“It does not have a distinctive Irn- Bru flavour but there is definitely an after-taste of the drink.”
The finalists have been invited to cook their signature dish for a panel of British Takeaway Award judges, including celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott and businesswoman and star of BBC 2 Dragon’s Den Sarah Willingham.
The cook-off will take place in Cactus Kitchens in London, the home of BBC 1’s Saturday Kitchen and Michel Roux Jr’s cookery school.
Chefs will be judged on a number of criteria including technique, quality of ingredients, presentation and passion for food. The winner will be announced at the British Takeaway Awards ceremony at The Savoy Hotel in London on November 27.
Nazar Hussain will compete for the title against Steven Zheng of Savour Chinese Cuisine in Edinburgh, Chris Cheah of Chicken George in Luton, Benn Hodges of Eatfirst in Aldgate and Soli Miah of Miah’s Kitchen in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
Go to the Hamilton Advertiser’s Facebook page or website for a video of the Irn-bru pakora being made.